Southeastern Louisiana University’s One-Step Variants in Zone Blocking

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikekKuchar

Editor’s Note: The following research was part of X&O Labs’ larger study on the Middle Zone and Outside Zone Concept, which can be accessed in its entirety by clicking here…

Near Hip Progression for Uncovered Linemen

Travis Mikel, the offensive line coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, teaches a hip Aiming Point and what he calls a “Triangle Read” to his offensive linemen. The triangle read is to keep their eyes on the following (down lineman hip, play side linebacker, then back to their track).

According to Mikel, once the uncovered lineman diagnoses their read, he makes the following adjustments:

• Hip Out- Climb to second level (Diagram 3)
• Hip In (to him)- Drive block defender (Diagram 4)
• Hip Stays- Drive to linebacker (Diagram 5)